By now, I’m impervious to mascara claims: thicker, longer, gentler, uh-huh…. Unfortunately, it’s one of those non-negotiables in my beauty regimen (unless, of course, I want to go around looking like I have two raisins where my eyes should be). Over the years, there have been a few superstars, but for the most part, I’ve had to settle for products that do a sufficient yet unspectacular job. A thick fringe of long, lustrous lashes, without shrapnel getting under my contacts or dark undereye smudges emerging by lunchtime—is that asking too much? Well, someone at Amazing Cosmetics must have been channeling me, or maybe there are just a lot of us with the same wish list. Either way, it’s Amazing Cosmetics Lush Mascara ($18.50; amazingcosmetics.com) to the rescue. No, really.

Lush comes in a bigger-than-normal silver tube—all the better to house the thick brush with. (And along with the silky smooth formula, that oversize wand may be the secret weapon.) I conducted my first test-run under normal circumstances: on the fly, in the morning, getting ready for work. By the noontime makeup check, my lashes were…hmm…somehow more defined, without clumps, fibers, or renegade smears. The next day, I curled my lashes first, then applied Lush Mascara, and—whoa!—there it was: the thick fringe I’d been searching for. Miraculously, one coat was all it took, no lash separating necessary. Plus, it lasted all day without melting or stinging and came off easily with makeup remover. Now, that’s what I call amazing!—Syren